POTENTE and CHEROKEE NATION from the Bob Baffert barn, Grade I winner Intrepido and Robusta are among a field of seven three-year-olds set to go in the Grade I, $500,000 Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Potente comes in with a perfect two-for-two record for owner Speedway Stable. A $2.4 million auction buy as a yearling, Potente most recently edged Robusta by a head when winning the GII San Felipe going 1 1/16 miles on March 7 at Santa Anita. That effort followed a debut win against maidens sprinting six furlongs at Santa Anita in January.
By Into Mischief, Potente will break from post 2, right next door to stablemate Cherokee Nation, who drew the rail. Potente will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who was also aboard in the San Felipe.
Cherokee Nation comes in owning the highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field. After finishing fifth in the GIII Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7, Cherokee Nation returned to the maiden ranks going one mile 20 days later and aired by 10 lengths at Santa Anita. The effort earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, which is tied for second-highest posted by a three-year-old this year. A colt by Not This Time, Cherokee Nation commanded $1.15 million at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is owned by an extensive ownership group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. Cherokee Nation will be ridden by Florent Geroux for the first time.
Robusta, trained by Doug O’Neill, nearly won the San Felipe at odds of 67-1. By Accelerate, Robusta raced up close to the pace in the San Felipe, had the lead in deep stretch, but could not hold off the late charge from Potente. Robusta previously was sixth in the Lewis at odds of 36-1.
A homebred for Calumet Farm, Robusta will again have the services of Emisael Jaramillo, the leading jockey at the Santa Anita Classic Meet.
Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins, bypassed the San Felipe after just missing in the Lewis. Returning from a three-plus month layoff in the Lewis, Intrepido dueled on the lead under Hector Berrios before being beaten by three-quarters of a length by the now sidelined Plutarch. Last year, Intrepido won the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita prior to finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile following a slow start.
By Maximus Mischief, Intrepido is owned by Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. He was bought for $385,000 at last year’s OBS April sale of two-year-olds in training. Intrepido will break from the far outside with Berrios again in the irons.
So Happy, trained by Mark Glatt, finished third in the San Felipe, 2 ¼ lengths back of Potente. It was the first time around two turns for the colt by Runhappy. Previously, So Happy won his debut sprinting in November at Del Mar and then scored in the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs in January at Santa Anita.
So Happy is owned by Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners. A $150,000 auction buy last year, So Happy will have regular rider Mike Smith aboard.
GRADE I SANTA ANITA DERBY
WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 10 of 12 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT
Cherokee Nation—Florent Geroux—124
Potente—Juan Hernandez—124
Vitruvian Man—Antonio Fresu—124
Robusta—Emisael Jaramillo—124
So Happy—Mike Smith—124
Start the Ride—Armando Ayuso—124
Intrepido—Hector Berrios—124
First post Saturday is 12 p.m. PT.
The Kentucy Derby points:
Rank – Horse – Points – Owner(s) – Trainer – Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Commandment, 150, Wathnan Racing (Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani) — Brad Cox $943,020
2. Renegade, 125, Robert & Lawana L. Low & Repole Stable (Mike Repole) — Todd Pletcher $1,002,500
3. Fulleffort, 110, St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola) & Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf et al) — Brad Cox $507,900
4. The Puma, 106, OGMA Investments LLC (Gustavo Delgado), JR Ranch (Ramiro Restrepo et al) & High Step Racing LLC (Randy Guy, Joe Noble, Kevin Avera, Jim Ferreira & Todd Perry) — Gustavo Delgado $428,000
5. Silent Tactic, 100, John C. Oxley — Mark Casse $1,020,130
6. Emerging Market, 100, Klaravich Stables Inc. (Seth Klarman) — Chad Brown $600,000
7. Pavlovian, 70, Reddam Racing LLC (J. Paul Reddam) — Doug O’Neill $527,000
– Paladin 60 Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine LLC (Jane Lyon) Chad Brown $437,500
8. Incredibolt, 60, Pin Oak Stud LLC (Dana Bernhard) — Riley Mott $424,570
9. Golden Tempo, 60, Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola) — Cherie DeVaux $300,000
10. Class President, 50, WinStar Farm LLC (Kenny Troutt), First Go Racing (Preston Trout et al) & CHC Inc. (Kit-Har Ng) — Todd Pletcher $569,700
11. Stark Contrast, 50, Amerman Racing LLC (Mr. & Mrs. John Amerman) — Michael McCarthy $439,900
12. Chief Wallabee, 50, Michael & Katherine G. Ball — Bill Mott $175,800
13. Iron Honor, 50, St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola), William H. Lawrence & Glassman Racing (Cathi Glassman) — Chad Brown $165,000
14. Potente, 50, Speedway Stables LLC (Peter Fluor & K.C. Weiner) — Bob Baffert $120,000
15. Chip Honcho, 49, Leland Ackerley Racing LLC (Lee Ackerley), James Sherwood, Jode Shupe & John Cilia — Steve Asmussen $190,000
– Ted Noffey 40 Spendthrift Farm LLC (Eric P. Gustavson) Todd Pletcher $1,602,963
16. Universe, 38, 4 G Racing LLC (Brent Gasaway), Gregg Day, Steven Crain & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek et al) — Kenny McPeek $244,650
17. Grittiness, 36, Repole Stable (Mike Repole) — Todd Pletcher $150,000
18. Danon Bourbon Japan RTKD Danox Co. Ltd. — Manabu Ikezoe $222,762
19. Wonder Dean (JPN) Euro/Mideast RTKD Yoshinari Yamamoto — Daisuke Takayanagi $725,172
20. Six Speed Euro/Mideast RTKD Brunetti Dugan Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds (Jake Ballis), Steve Adkisson, Swinbank Stables (Reagan Swinbank) — Bhupat Seemar $314,366
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21. Further Ado, 35, Spendthrift Farm LLC (Eric P. Gustavson) — Brad Cox $312,470
22. Nearly, 35, Centennial Farms (Donald Little) Todd Pletcher — $220,450
23. Litmus Test, 34, SF Racing LLC (Gavin Murphy), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf et al), Madaket Stables LLC (Sol Kumin), Stonestreet Stables LLC, etc — Bob Baffert $429,688
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